Re: It's almost time... : \

[Guest guest]

Sandy,

Be glad you found this site. It is absolutely the best resource

that you will find to come to with your questions.

I had lower jaw surgery on July 22nd, and like most of the other

people on this site had a fear of having a hard time breathing. Pre-

surgery I was a mouth breather, and the thought of having a splint

in and possibly wired shut worried me that it could obstuct my

breathing. It didn't. Plus, the surgery put an end to my mouth

breathing, definitely a bonus to having this surgery.

You will have quite a bit of swelling, but will probably be put on

steriods for the first few days in order to keep the swelling under

control. Also, my OS gave me anti-nausea pills to take for the

first week or so to reduce the chance of me vomiting. Even so, a

couple of weeks later I got an infection which caused me to get very

sick and vomit. It wasn't that bad. Because you will be on a

liquid diet for at least the first few weeks, when you throw up it's

only liquids and not that scary. I had read to just hold your lips

open. Also, you can brace your jaw with the back of your hand to

keep it from trying to open to wide, (this also works great if you

sneeze or cough).

Also, talk out your fears with your OS. You should have a quite

lengthy question and answer discussion a couple of weeks before your

surgery. My OS answered all of my questions, but most importantly

he knew my main fears. He did everything possible to keep me

comfortable, even giving me his cell # to use day or night.

Welcome to the group.

Connie

> I found this message group while searching the Internet for

> information regarding Orthognathic Surgery and thought that maybe

> putting my fears out there would help to alleviate them. Plus, I

> have found it great to read the information and support past and

> present patients are posting.

>

> I have sleep apnea due to a bottom jaw that sits too far back and

> closes off my air passage at night (normal air passage is 10mm,

mine

> is 2mm). My body wakes itself up approx. 27 times an hour every

> night. Needless to say orthognathic surgery should fix this and

> hopefully give me restful nights once all is complete.

> I've had the braces for 18+ months to straighten my teeth, now

> it's

> almost time for the surgery – Nov. 2nd and I'm starting to

> get REAL

> nervous. I can usually handle pain pretty well, but I'm having

> this

> fear of not being able to breathe and panicking, also of vomiting

> with my mouth banded shut. Is there much swelling of the throat,

> because as I stated mine isn't very big to begin with? Also, are

> there a high percentage of patients that vomit during the recovery

of

> this procedure?

> Any info or links to more info will be greatly appreciated.

> Thanks,

> Sandy

[Guest guest]

Hi, I'm 8 days post-op. I didn't get wired shut, but was put in ICU

for the first night (had to stay 2 nights because there was no bed

on the unit for me). In ICU they have a tube that goes from your

nose to your stomach. What will make you nauseous and vomit, is the

blood that goes into your stomach. This tube will suck it all out

for you. That being said....I still did vomit, tube and

everything. While it's not a pleasant experience I didn't feel that

I was choking or anything, sort of just dry heaves since there's

nothing in your stomach, anything that comes up comes out the tube.

(I know this sounds really gross, but it's reality). After day 2

the nausea went away. As far as after the surgery goes, whether

you're wired or banded, you should have wire cutters in case you get

sick.

Hope this helps.

Pam

> I found this message group while searching the Internet for

> information regarding Orthognathic Surgery and thought that maybe

> putting my fears out there would help to alleviate them. Plus, I

> have found it great to read the information and support past and

> present patients are posting.

>

> I have sleep apnea due to a bottom jaw that sits too far back and

> closes off my air passage at night (normal air passage is 10mm,

mine

> is 2mm). My body wakes itself up approx. 27 times an hour every

> night. Needless to say orthognathic surgery should fix this and

> hopefully give me restful nights once all is complete.

> I've had the braces for 18+ months to straighten my teeth, now

> it's

> almost time for the surgery – Nov. 2nd and I'm starting to

> get REAL

> nervous. I can usually handle pain pretty well, but I'm having

> this

> fear of not being able to breathe and panicking, also of vomiting

> with my mouth banded shut. Is there much swelling of the throat,

> because as I stated mine isn't very big to begin with? Also, are

> there a high percentage of patients that vomit during the recovery

of

> this procedure?

> Any info or links to more info will be greatly appreciated.

> Thanks,

> Sandy

[Guest guest]

forbz13 wrote:

>I have sleep apnea due to a bottom jaw that sits too far back and

>closes off my air passage at night (normal air passage is 10mm, mine

>is 2mm). My body wakes itself up approx. 27 times an hour every

>night. Needless to say orthognathic surgery should fix this and

>hopefully give me restful nights once all is complete.

>I've had the braces for 18+ months to straighten my teeth, now

>it's

>almost time for the surgery – Nov. 2nd and I'm starting to

>get REAL

>nervous. I can usually handle pain pretty well, but I'm having

>this

>fear of not being able to breathe and panicking, also of vomiting

>with my mouth banded shut.

>

Re: breathing -- it's entirely possible you'll have the opposite

problem. You'll be able to breathe so well afterward that you'll have

trouble staying awake. Seriously.

I knew from my first conscious breath after orthognathic surgery that I

did the right thing. It sounds like you will, too.

Bill

[Guest guest]

I think Bill's right on target here. If I had apnea, I didn't know

it. But so many people have said the same thing.

Also that it's possible you can look forward to enhanced sense of

smell. Many people smell things for the first time ever after

surgery.

And as for pain, probably you will not have to put up with a lot of

pain, and what you do have will be easily tended by meds. That's not

universally true, but in an amazing number of cases, folks get a

good surprise. Even find that the major meds cause them more

problems than otc stuff like liquid tylenol, and that they're ready

to ditch the scripts early on.

That does not mean that it is or should be a goal to stop taking

pain meds. it's much easier to prevent pain and stay ahead of it,

even by taking a dose a half hour or 15 minutes early, than it is to

play catchup, once pain has grabbed you.

Cammie

>

> >I have sleep apnea due to a bottom jaw that sits too far back and

> >closes off my air passage at night (normal air passage is 10mm,

mine

> >is 2mm). My body wakes itself up approx. 27 times an hour every

> >night. Needless to say orthognathic surgery should fix this and

> >hopefully give me restful nights once all is complete.

> >I've had the braces for 18+ months to straighten my teeth, now

> >it's

> >almost time for the surgery – Nov. 2nd and I'm starting to

> >get REAL

> >nervous. I can usually handle pain pretty well, but I'm having

> >this

> >fear of not being able to breathe and panicking, also of vomiting

> >with my mouth banded shut.

> >

> Re: breathing -- it's entirely possible you'll have the opposite

> problem. You'll be able to breathe so well afterward that you'll

have

> trouble staying awake. Seriously.

>

> I knew from my first conscious breath after orthognathic surgery

that I

> did the right thing. It sounds like you will, too.

>

> Bill

[Guest guest]

Connie,

Thank you for the info. I look foward to posting questions and

having such a great support group.

Again Thanks,

Sandy

> > I found this message group while searching the Internet for

> > information regarding Orthognathic Surgery and thought that maybe

> > putting my fears out there would help to alleviate them. Plus, I

> > have found it great to read the information and support past and

> > present patients are posting.

> >

> > I have sleep apnea due to a bottom jaw that sits too far back and

> > closes off my air passage at night (normal air passage is 10mm,

> mine

> > is 2mm). My body wakes itself up approx. 27 times an hour every

> > night. Needless to say orthognathic surgery should fix this and

> > hopefully give me restful nights once all is complete.

> > I've had the braces for 18+ months to straighten my teeth, now

> > it's

> > almost time for the surgery – Nov. 2nd and I'm starting to

> > get REAL

> > nervous. I can usually handle pain pretty well, but I'm having

> > this

> > fear of not being able to breathe and panicking, also of vomiting

> > with my mouth banded shut. Is there much swelling of the throat,

> > because as I stated mine isn't very big to begin with? Also, are

> > there a high percentage of patients that vomit during the

recovery

> of

> > this procedure?

> > Any info or links to more info will be greatly appreciated.

> > Thanks,

> > Sandy

[Guest guest]

Thank you to everyone. I feel a little more at ease that I have such

a great group to reach out to.

Sandy

> >

> > >I have sleep apnea due to a bottom jaw that sits too far back

and

> > >closes off my air passage at night (normal air passage is 10mm,

> mine

> > >is 2mm). My body wakes itself up approx. 27 times an hour every

> > >night. Needless to say orthognathic surgery should fix this and

> > >hopefully give me restful nights once all is complete.

> > >I've had the braces for 18+ months to straighten my teeth, now

> > >it's

> > >almost time for the surgery – Nov. 2nd and I'm starting to

> > >get REAL

> > >nervous. I can usually handle pain pretty well, but I'm having

> > >this

> > >fear of not being able to breathe and panicking, also of

vomiting

> > >with my mouth banded shut.

> > >

> > Re: breathing -- it's entirely possible you'll have the opposite

> > problem. You'll be able to breathe so well afterward that you'll

> have

> > trouble staying awake. Seriously.

> >

> > I knew from my first conscious breath after orthognathic surgery

> that I

> > did the right thing. It sounds like you will, too.

> >

> > Bill

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandy, Hope this will help. I had surgery for sleep apnea three

mos ago.

> I have sleep apnea due to a bottom jaw that sits too far back and

> closes off my air passage at night (normal air passage is 10mm,

mine

> is 2mm).

I, too, had a narrow airway. Before surgery my airway was to 3mm

but now it is about 18mm. The sleep apnea is cured and for the

first time in years I can sleep on back without waking up choking.

I was in braces for 2 years, but ready for surgery at 18 mos. But

had back problems that delayed the surgery until June.

> I've had the braces for 18+ months to straighten my teeth, now

> it's

> almost time for the surgery – Nov. 2nd and I'm starting to

> get REAL

> nervous. I can usually handle pain pretty well, but I'm having

> this

> fear of not being able to breathe and panicking, also of vomiting

> with my mouth banded shut. Is there much swelling of the throat,

> because as I stated mine isn't very big to begin with? Also, are

> there a high percentage of patients that vomit during the recovery

of

> this procedure?

To answer some of your questions:

I didn't have any problems with vomiting. I told the

anesthesiologist that I've had previous problems and they made sure

I didn't have any problems afterwards. I didn't have any problems

with swelling of the throat, but problems were more related to the

gunk from the intubation & pain meds and after I was released from

hospital. Remember after surgery your airway will be much larger.

I am assuming you will be having Lefort I, BSSO and genio.

They did leave the nasogastric tube and airway tube in until the

next morning. (And all night I was telling them to get it out-

writing on my whiteboard). The next morning they pulled the tubes

and life was much better. I could talk right away (I wasn't wired

shut, just rubber banded). In fact I called my 5 kids to tell them

I was doing good. I also was able to drink from a cup. They wanted

me to use the syringe and tubing and I said just give me a cup!! I

may not have been too tidy, but it was a lot easier than the syringe.

I did, like I said, have trouble, after I was released from hospital.

I woke unable to catch my breath two nights in a row which was

probably a result of crud in throat from intubation, anemia (from

blood loss) and pain meds. On Day 5 I discontinued pain meds and

went to Tylenol. I really wasn't having bad pain, just feeling of

pressure. I finally got a blood transfusion on Day 7, started

drinking pineapple juice to loosen mucous crud in throat ( & hack up)

along with stopping pain meds seemed to do the trick. By day 8-9

the worse was over. Codeine, etc. decrease respiration and I think

that coupled with the other problems was why I was so short of

breath.

Plan to have some help the first few days at least. Remember that

everybody's body reacts a little differently. I had very little

swelling, others have quite a bit. I was black blue especially from

lower jaw and down chest. By week 4-5 most of the numbness was

gone. I have very little numbness left a this point. If you have

any other questions feel free to ask them.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the great info and happy to hear that your sleep apnea is

cured. Can't wait for a good night's rest!

Sandy

> Hi Sandy, Hope this will help. I had surgery for sleep apnea

three

> mos ago.

>

> > I have sleep apnea due to a bottom jaw that sits too far back and

> > closes off my air passage at night (normal air passage is 10mm,

> mine

> > is 2mm).

>

> I, too, had a narrow airway. Before surgery my airway was to 3mm

> but now it is about 18mm. The sleep apnea is cured and for the

> first time in years I can sleep on back without waking up choking.

> I was in braces for 2 years, but ready for surgery at 18 mos. But

> had back problems that delayed the surgery until June.

>

> > I've had the braces for 18+ months to straighten my teeth, now

> > it's

> > almost time for the surgery – Nov. 2nd and I'm starting to

> > get REAL

> > nervous. I can usually handle pain pretty well, but I'm having

> > this

> > fear of not being able to breathe and panicking, also of vomiting

> > with my mouth banded shut. Is there much swelling of the throat,

> > because as I stated mine isn't very big to begin with? Also, are

> > there a high percentage of patients that vomit during the

recovery

> of

> > this procedure?

>

> To answer some of your questions:

>

> I didn't have any problems with vomiting. I told the

> anesthesiologist that I've had previous problems and they made sure

> I didn't have any problems afterwards. I didn't have any problems

> with swelling of the throat, but problems were more related to the

> gunk from the intubation & pain meds and after I was released from

> hospital. Remember after surgery your airway will be much larger.

> I am assuming you will be having Lefort I, BSSO and genio.

>

> They did leave the nasogastric tube and airway tube in until the

> next morning. (And all night I was telling them to get it out-

> writing on my whiteboard). The next morning they pulled the tubes

> and life was much better. I could talk right away (I wasn't wired

> shut, just rubber banded). In fact I called my 5 kids to tell them

> I was doing good. I also was able to drink from a cup. They

wanted

> me to use the syringe and tubing and I said just give me a cup!! I

> may not have been too tidy, but it was a lot easier than the

syringe.

>

> I did, like I said, have trouble, after I was released from

hospital.

>

> I woke unable to catch my breath two nights in a row which was

> probably a result of crud in throat from intubation, anemia (from

> blood loss) and pain meds. On Day 5 I discontinued pain meds and

> went to Tylenol. I really wasn't having bad pain, just feeling of

> pressure. I finally got a blood transfusion on Day 7, started

> drinking pineapple juice to loosen mucous crud in throat ( & hack

up)

> along with stopping pain meds seemed to do the trick. By day 8-9

> the worse was over. Codeine, etc. decrease respiration and I think

> that coupled with the other problems was why I was so short of

> breath.

>

> Plan to have some help the first few days at least. Remember that

> everybody's body reacts a little differently. I had very little

> swelling, others have quite a bit. I was black blue especially

from

> lower jaw and down chest. By week 4-5 most of the numbness was

> gone. I have very little numbness left a this point. If you have

> any other questions feel free to ask them.